1. Raffi

2. Zartonk What was the Zartonk and why is it important? The Zartonk was the cultural and political reawakening of the Armenians that happened during the 1800’s The Zartonk shaped who we are as Armenians The Zartonk was what helped the Armenian people start on their journey to freedom

3. Armenia’s political and cultural reawakening was led be writers Men like Khatchadour Apovian, Mikhail Nalbandian, Kamar Katiba (Raphael Patkanian), Mugerditch Beshiktashlian, Hagop Baronian, Arakel Babakhanian (Leo), Krikor Arsruni, Mugerdich Portukalian,Arpiar Arpiarian, Krikor Zohrab, Hovanes Toumanian Writers

4. One of the greatest Armenian writers – ever He wrote exciting novels that were written about events that were happening at the time Raffi

5. Born in the village of Payajouk, near Salmasd, in northern Persia VAN Salmasd Raffi

6. Raffi went to a one-room school and was taught by an Armenian priest, Der Todik Boys of all ages were in the school Der Todik was very strict and used to beat the boys as punishment Raffi wrote about these punishments in his book Gaidzer, condemning them Primary Education

7. In 1847, when he was 12, Raffi was sent by his father to Tiflis to go to a better school Nersessian Jemaran was closed due to a cholera epidemic Raffi was enrolled in a private school run by Garabed Belakhian He later attended a gymnasium – a high school in Tiflis, and was planning to go to St. Petersburg for college when his father’s business began to have problems He would never get a chance to go to college Later Education

8. During his school years, Raffi got exposed to many interesting ideas and people He saw the plight of the Armenians, especially those in Western Armenia, who lived in the Ottoman Empire, and wanted to help bring about change He also saw how the rich Armenians and many of the priest did not care much about there fellow Armenians and that they cared only about their wealth In Tiflis

9. When he returned to Persia, he helped his father with the business and then opened a school in Payajouk Raffi was interested in bringing about change, but the established Armenians resisted He finally left and crossed the border into Western Armenia, and visited Van,Bitlis, Moush and other areas Back in Salmasd

10. Raffi went to visit many monestaries and saw that many of the clergy were ignorant and lazy He then went to Varaki Vank and met Khrimian Hairig and was very impressed He stayed for a while, working with Khrimian Hairig and his students In 1857, he returned home and started a school in Salmasd In Van

11. Raffi went on to start a business and get married and have children However, there were many people who did not like him and his ideas When several members of his family, including his father, died in a cholera epidemic, his family’s business and his own business were lost and he became very poor Back in Salmasd

12. Raffi found a job as a teacher in Tabriz, a larger city in northern Persia Later, he started teaching in Akoulis, in Nakhichevan, which later was a hot-bed of revolutionary activity He then moved back to Tiflis, where he served as a mentor for Simon Zavarian, Christapor Mikhaelian, and others who later founded the ARF During this time he wrote many poems, stories and articles, and became an editor at Mshak, Krikor Arsruni’s newspaper Teaching and Writing

13. Raffi is most famous for his novels He wrote most of his important works from1874- 1888 He is most famous for Ê»ÝÃÁ, The Fool His other famous books include –Tavit Beg –Gaidzer –Samvel –Khamsayi Melikoutiuneruh –Khatchakoghi Hishadageneruh –Voski Akaghagh –Jallaleddin His Books

14. His books influenced many of the great Armenian political leaders and revolutionaries Raffi talked about the need to reform the church and other institutions in Armenian life Raffi stressed the importance of providing a good education to Armenian villagers Raffi thought that Armenians needed to stop being so peaceful and accepting of the abuses that they endured from the Turks and the Kurds Why is Raffi so Important

15. He gave ideas to the Armenian Revolutionaries about –How to smuggle guns into Western Armenia –How to teach the villagers self-respect and self defense –He basically drew up the plans for the Armenia liberation movement Why is Raffi so Important